African music makes a mark on the region (From Durham Times)

African music makes a mark on the region

1:58pm Friday 6th November 2009 in Arts

AN AFRICAN music group is touring schools, churches and colleges in the region.

Ngoma Vuma Afrika was founded in 2004 by Peter Okeno Ong’are, a doctoral researcher at Durham University’s music school. He formed the group while studying in South Africa. Members have since recorded two CDs, Ngoma Afrika and Kembo, and have performed widely across the North-East.

The autumn programme has included performances, workshops and concerts in Cassop School, Linskill Centre in North Shields, St Margaret School in Durham, Durham University’s nursery school and Good Word Ministries in Langley Moor.

The act also played St Chad’s College of Durham University, Purple Radio at Durham University, St John’s Church in Neville’s Cross and Durham Students’ Union.

Ngoma is a word used in central, eastern and southern Africa to refer to singing, drumming and dancing.

Vuma means agreement or the choral response in performances of African music.

Hence, Ngoma Vuma Afrika can be translated as: African drums of agreement.

The aims of the tour are cultural exchange between South Africa and the UK, to create a partnership between Durham University and North-West University of South Africa, raise money for the Ruth First Educational Trust and to teach about African cultures.